Order of the Rising Sun

Order of the Rising Sun
The is a Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese government, created on 10 April 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge features rays of sunlight from the rising sun. The design of the Rising Sun symbolizes energy as powerful as the rising sun in parallel with the "rising sun" concept of Japan ("Land of the Rising Sun").
The Order of the Rising Sun is awarded to people who have rendered distinguished service to the state in various fields except military service. Since there is no order for military achievements under the current Japanese system, Japan Self-Defense Forces personnel are awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure for their long engagement in public service. Prior to the end of World War II, it was also awarded for exemplary military service. In 2003, the 7th and 8th Class, which were at the bottom of the Order of the Rising Sun, were abolished, and the upper half of the 1st Class (勲一等, Kun-ittō) was separated as the Order of the Paulownia Flowers, which was higher than the Order of the Rising Sun.
Until 2003, the Order of the Rising Sun was on the same rank as the Order of the Precious Crown, with the Order of the Rising Sun being for men only and the Order of the Precious Crown for women only. The Order of the Sacred Treasure was treated as an order of slightly lower rank than the Order of the Rising Sun and the Order of the Precious Crown. For example, the 1st class of the Order of the Sacred Treasure was placed between the 1st class and the 2nd class of the Order of the Rising Sun and the Order of the Precious Crown, and the 2nd class of the Order of the Sacred Treasure was placed between the 2nd class and the 3rd class of the Order of the Rising Sun and the Order of the Precious Crown.
Since 2003, the Order of the Rising Sun has been awarded not only to men but also to women, and the Order of the Precious Crown has become a special order given only to female members of the imperial family in Japan and female members of royal families in foreign countries, only when it is specifically necessary for diplomatic ceremonies. The Order of the Rising Sun and the Order of the Sacred Treasure became the same rank of orders, and one of them came to be awarded because of the difference in the viewpoint of contribution to the state. The Order of the Rising Sun is awarded with an emphasis on achievements to the state, and the Order of the Sacred Treasure is awarded with an emphasis on long-term public service.
While it is the third highest order bestowed by the Japanese government, it is however generally the highest ordinarily conferred order. The highest Japanese order, the Order of the Chrysanthemum, is reserved for heads of state or royalty, while the second highest order, the Order of the Paulownia Flowers, is mostly reserved for politicians.
The modern version of this honour has been conferred on non-Japanese recipients beginning in 1981 (although several foreigners were given the honor before World War II). The awarding of the Order is administered by the Decoration Bureau of the Cabinet Office headed by the Japanese Prime Minister. It is awarded in the name of the Emperor and can be awarded posthumously.
Since 2003, the number representing rank included in the official name of the order was removed. As a result, although numbers representing ranks were sometimes used in common names, the formal names such as 勲一等 (Kun-ittō, First Class) and 勲二等 (Kun-nitō, Second Class) were no longer used.
Criteria for awarding
The Order of the Rising Sun is awarded to the following;
A person who has contributed to the stability and development of the international community.
A person who has contributed to the realization of appropriate tax payment.
A person who has contributed to the promotion of school education or social education.
A person who has contributed to the promotion of culture or sports.
A person who has contributed to the promotion of science and technology.
A person who has contributed to the improvement and promotion of social welfare.
A person who has contributed to the improvement and promotion of the health or public health of citizens.
A person who has contributed to the improvement of the working environment for workers.
A person who has contributed to environmental conservation.
A person who is engaged in the business of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, commerce, mining, industry, information and communications industry, construction industry, real estate industry, finance and insurance industry, service industry, etc., and has contributed to the public interest by developing the economy and industry.
A person who has contributed to the public interest by engaging in the services of an attorney, certified public accountant, patent attorney, etc.
A person who has contributed to the public interest by engaging in the work of newspapers, broadcasting or other news reporting.
A person who has engaged in a public interest business such as Electricity Business, Gas Business, Transportation Business, etc. and has contributed to the promotion of public welfare.
A person other than those listed in the preceding items who has contributed to the public interest.
Among them, regulations on the criteria for awarding orders to those who belong to the National Diet, the central and local governments, and courts stipulate in detail which ranks are awarded for each position. For example, the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (1st class) is awarded to a person who has made outstanding achievements in his/her position as Prime Minister, Speaker of the House of Representatives, President of the House of Councillors, or Chief Justice of Japan. The Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (1st class) or the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays (2nd class) are awarded to a person who has made outstanding achievements in his/her position as Minister of State, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, Senior Vice-Minister, Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives, Vice President of the House of Councilors, or Judge of the Supreme Court.
Classes
The Order was awarded in nine classes until 2003, when the Grand Cordon with Paulownia Flowers was made a separate order, and the lowest two classes were abolished. Since then, it has been awarded in six classes. Conventionally, a diploma is prepared to accompany the insignia of the order, and in some rare instances, the personal signature of the Emperor will have been added. As an illustration of the wording of the text, a translation of a representative 1929 diploma says:
Insignia
The star for the Grand Cordon and Second Class is a silver star of eight points, each point having three alternating silver rays; the central emblem is identical to the badge. It is worn on the left chest for the Grand Cordon, on the right chest for the 2nd Class.
The badge for the Grand Cordon to Sixth Classes is an eight-pointed badge bearing a central red enamelled sun disc, with gilt points (1st–4th Classes), with four gilt and four silver points (5th Class), or with silver points (6th Class); each point comprises three white enamelled rays. It is suspended from three enamelled paulownia leaves (not chrysanthemum leaves as the Decoration Bureau page claims) on a ribbon in white with red border stripes, worn as a sash from the right shoulder for the Grand Cordon, as a necklet for the 2nd and 3rd Classes and on the left chest for the 4th to 6th Classes (with a rosette for the 4th Class).
The badge for the Seventh and Eighth Classes consisted of a silver medal in the shape of three paulownia leaves, enamelled for the 7th Class and plain for the 8th Class. Both were suspended on a ribbon, again in white with red border stripes, and worn on the left chest. Both classes were abolished in 2003 and replaced by the Order of the Paulownia Flowers, a single-class order that now ranks above the Order of the Rising Sun.
Notable recipients
1st Class, Grand Cordon
Tony Abbott (1957–), Former Australian Prime Minister, 2022
Creighton Abrams
Aziz Abduhakimov, 2022
Syed Hamid Albar, 2019
Edmund Allenby, 1921
James F. Amos, 2014
Michael Armacost, 2007
Richard Armitage, 2015
Pridi Banomyong (1900–1983)
Arthur Barrett, 1921
Edmund Barton (1849–1920), Former Australian Prime Minister, 1905
Carol Bellamy, 2006
Felix von Bendemann, 1906
Abdelmalek Benhabyles, 2012
Charles Reed Bishop (1822–1915)
Dennis C. Blair, 2001
Sepp Blatter, 2009
Gustave Emile Boissonade (1825–1910), 1909
Walther von Brauchitsch (1881-1948), 1942
Sydney Brenner (1927–2019), 2017
Laurens Jan Brinkhorst, 2009
Vincent K. Brooks 2018
Arleigh Burke (1901–1996)
Rudolf Burmester (1875-1956)
Erwin Bälz (1849–1913), 1905
George W. Casey Jr. 2010
Krasae Chanawongse, 2004
Dick Cheney, 2018
Helen Clark, 2017
James Wheeler Davidson (1872–1933), 1896
Kemal Derviş, 2009
Karl Dönitz, (1891-1980), 1943
Malcolm Fraser, (1930-2015) Former Australian Prime Minister, 2006
Jerome Isaac Friedman, 2016
Bill Gates (1955–), Co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, 2020
Robert Gates, 2017
Thamir Ghadhban, 2016
Julia Gillard (1961–), Former Australian Prime Minister, 2021
David L. Goldfein, 2021
Sir Stephen Gomersall KCMG, 2015
Hermann Göring (1893–1946)
António Guterres, 2002
William Hague, 2017
Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX (1912–1988), 1982
Ginandjar Kartasasmita (1941–), 2008
Jusuf Kalla (1942–), 2022
Akbar Tandjung (1945–), 2022
John Hamre, 2016
Kenzaburo Hara (1907–2004), 1996
Harry B. Harris Jr., 2018
Dennis Hastert, 2010
Bob Hawke (1929-2019), Former Australian Prime Minister, 2012
Reinhard Heydrich (1904-1942), posthumous
Musa Hitam, 2018
Soichiro Honda (1906–1991), 1991
John Howard (1939-), Former Australian Prime Minister, 2013
Masaru Ibuka (1908–1997), 1997
Daniel Inouye, 2000
Henry Jackson (1855–1929)
S. Jayakumar, 2012
Karu Jayasuriya (1940–), 2016
Anerood Jugnauth, 1988
Henk Kamp, 2014
Caroline Kennedy (1957–), 2021
Abhakara Kiartivongse, 1900
Thanom Kittikachorn
Bert Koenders, 2014
Komura Jutarō (1855–1911)
Jorge Kosmas Sifaki 2014
Sir John Kotelawala (1895–1980), 1954
V. Krishnamurthy, 2009
Wataru Kubo, 2001
Ashwani Kumar, 2017
Lee Hsien Loong (1952–), 2016
Lee Kuan Yew (1923–2015), 1967
Curtis LeMay (1906–1990) 1964
Queen Liliʻuokalani (1838–1917), 1882
Wangari Maathai, 2009
Ibrahim Mabrouk (1873–1959), 1934
Douglas MacArthur (1880–1964), 1960
Sir John Major, 2012
Mike Mansfield, 1990
Baron Yasutake Matsuoka, 1906
Yōsuke Matsuoka, 1940
John McCain, 2018
John McEwen, 1973
Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin, 2011
Robert Menzies (1894–1978), Former Australian Prime Minister, 1973
Norman Yoshio Mineta (1931–2022), 2007
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka (1955–), 2022
Amina C. Mohamed, 2017
Mahathir Mohamad, 1991
Ernest Moniz, 2017
Ivan Mrkić, 2018
Hendrik Pieter Nicolaas Muller (1859–1941)
A. M. Nair, alias "Nair-San"
Ben Ngubane, 2010
Peter Pace, 2007
Rear Admiral Ali Osman Pasha, 1890
Andrew Peacock, Former Australian politician and diplomat, 2017
Nancy Pelosi, 2015
William J. Perry, 2002
John J. Pershing, 1918
Plaek Phibunsongkhram, 1942
Józef Piłsudski, 1928
Herbert Plumer (1857–1932)
Ram Chandra Poudel, 2020
Joachim von Ribbentrop (1893-1946), 1937
Condoleezza Rice, 2017
Edward A. Rice Jr.
Jay Rockefeller, 2013
Herman Van Rompuy, 2015
Donald Rumsfeld, 2015
Eishiro Saito, in 1992
Saisho Atsushi, 1906
Klaus Schwab, 2013
Abid Sharifov, 2016
Count Paul de Smet de Naeyer,
Shoichiro Toyoda, 2002
Chea Sim, 2013
Dr. Manmohan Singh, 2014
Edward Śmigły-Rydz, (1886–1941)
Isamu Takeshita (1869–1949), 1920
Strobe Talbott, 2016
Ratan Tata, 2012
Her Majesty Queen Te Atairangikaahu of New Zealand (1931–2006), 1970
Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen, 2018
John Anthony Cecil Tilley (1869–1952)
Tokugawa Yoshinobu (1837–1913), 1908
Goh Chok Tong, 2011
Matome Ugaki, ca. 1945.
Cesar Virata, 2016
Võ Hồng Phúc, 2012
Wan Waithayakon
Wang Jin-pyng (1957–), 2021
Sir John Whitehead GCMG CVO (1932–2013), 2006
Gough Whitlam, 2006
Yi Kang, 1912
2nd Class, Gold and Silver Star
Mohammad Hossein Adeli (1953–), 2014
Salem Ben Nasser Al-Ismaily, 2017
Momofuku Ando (1910–2007), 2002
Jaime Zóbel de Ayala (1934–), 2018
Zeti Akhtar Aziz (1947–), 2017
Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwano X (1946–), 2022
Arden L. Bement, Jr. (1932–), 2009
Jagdish Bhagwati (1934–), 2006
Henryka Bochniarz(1947–), 2010
Louis Bols (1867–1930), 1921
Gustave Emile Boissonade (1825–1910), 1876
Donald Prentice Booth (1902–1993), 1961
Georges Hilaire Bousquet (1846–1937), 1898
Jules Brunet (1838–1911)
Horace Capron (1804–1885), 1884
Chang Yung-fa (1927–2016), 2012
Rita R. Colwell (1934–), 2005
William Douglas Crowder, 2008
Gerald Curtis, 2005
Marzuki Darusman, 2017
Sir Joseph Dimsdale (1849–1902), 1902
Kiin Donarudo, 1993
Jonathan M. Dorfan (1947–), 2017
Hugh Elles (1880–1945)
José Manuel Entrecanales, 2018
Predrag Filipov, 2019
Bill Frenzel, 2000
Kuntoro Mangkusubroto (1947–), 2023
Thamir Ghadhban (1945–), 2016
Thomas Blake Glover (1838–1911), 1908
William Reginald Hall (1870–1943)
Lionel Halsey (1872–1946)
Mazie Hirono (1947– ), 2021
Ho Mei-yueh (1951– ), 2021
Kazuo Ishiguro (1954- ), 2018
Mohamed Nouri Jouini, (2019)
Arifin Tasrif (1953–), 2023
Onkar Singh Kanwar (1942–), 2018
Donald Keene (1922–2019), 1973
Michael Kirby, 2017
Michał Kleiber, 2012
David C. Knapp, (1927–2010)
Tommy Koh, 2009
Jeffrey Koo, 2012
George Trumbull Ladd (1842–1921)
Cecil Lambert (1864–1928)
Dan Larhammar (1956–), 2022
Tsung-Dao Lee 2007
Charles LeGendre (1830–1899), 1874
Wassily Leontief (1905-1999), 1985
Lilia B. de Lima, 2006
Yusron Ihza Mahendra (1958–), 2022
Abdul Gafoor Mahmud(1934-), 2017
William Flynn Martin, 2018
William R. Merz, 2021
Ignasius Jonan (1963–), 2022
Connie Morella (1931–), 2016
Riccardo Muti, 2016
Thottuvelil Krishna Pillai Ayappan Nair 2015
Hideyo Noguchi (1876–1928), 1928
George R. Packard 2007
Jerzy Pomianowski
Randles, Sir John Scurrah (1875–1945)
Chintamani Nagesa Ramachandra Rao, 2015
Rein Raud, 2011
Governor J. Peter Ricketts, 2022
Johannis de Rijke (1842–1913)
Wilbur L. Ross (1937–), 2015
Vsevolod Rudnev (1855–1913), 1907
Saisho Atsushi, 1887
Shyam Saran, 2019
Jacob Schiff (1847–1920), 1907
William Francis Sempill (1893–1965)
N. K. Singh (2016)
Jouko Skinnari, 2011
E. Sreedharan (1932–), 2013
Wendell M. Stanley (1904–1971), 1966
Michael Ira Sovern 2003
Sayidiman Suryohadiprojo (1927–2021), 2012
Washington SyCip, 2017
Henry W. Taft (1859–1945), 1929
Frederick Charles Tudor Tudor (1863–1946)
Charles Vaughan-Lee (1867–1928)
John Waldron (1909–1975) 1971
Bryon Wilfert (1952–), 2011
Ernst-Ludwig Winnacker (1941–), 2009
Richard J. Wood, 2010
Kenkichi Yabashi (1869–1927), 1927
Philip Yeo (1946–), 2007
3rd Class, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon
Craig Agena (1960–), 2014
John F. Aiso (1909–1987), 1985
Giorgio Amitrano (1957–), 2020 (ceremony held in 2022)
James E. Auer, 2009
William Hansel Barrow (1936–2020), 2005
William Sturgis Bigelow (1850–1926), 1909
Edmund Blunden (1896–1974), 1963
Ivan Bondarenko, 2012
Richard Bowring (1947–), 2013
Ben Nighthorse Campbell (1933–), 2011
Kent E. Calder, 2014
Ion Caramitru, 2017
Kirsti Koch Christensen, 2006
Albert Diamond Cohen, 2011
Jennifer Corbett, 2014
Edwin Cranston, 2009
Rust Macpherson Deming, 2013
Steven DeMoss, 2022
Rudy Demotte, 2016
Michael Donnelly, 2014
Ronald P. Dore
Todd A. Dozier, 2021
Peter Drysdale, 2001
Clint Eastwood, 2009
Gustave Eiffel (1832–1923)
Stanisław Filipek, 2006
Jack Fujimoto, 2011
Robert Garfias, 2005
Carol Gluck, 2006
William Elliot Griffis (1843–1928), 1926
Mahdi Elmandjra, 1986
Moto Hagio, 2022
Percival Hall-Thompson (1874–1950)
Jochem P. Hanse, 2007
Helen Hardacre, 2018
James Curtis Hepburn (1815–1911)
Judit Hidasi, 2005
Yanosuke Hirai (1902–1986), 1972
Irene Hirano (1948–2020), 2020
John Charles Hoad (1856–1911), 1906
Susumu Honjo, 2003
Jiro Horikoshi (1903–1982), 1973
Bill Hosokawa (1915–2007), 1987
John Howes, (1924–2017), 2003
Robert Huey, 2019
Romuald Huszcza, 2012
José Luis Ceacero Inguanzo, 1886
Keiichi Ishizaka (1945–2016), 2015
Muhammad Nurul Islam (1943–), 2012
Jean-François Jarrige (1940–2014)
Kanō Jigorō (1860–1938)
Peter Jost (1921–2016), 2011
Otto Hermann Kahn (1867–1934)
Kusuma Karunaratne (1940–)
Stephen Ira Katz, 2012
Dr. Nghiem Vu Khai, 2014
Harue Kitamura, 2004
Larry Kominz, 2022
George Koshi c. 1960
George Trumbull Ladd (1842–1921)
Miles Wedderburn Lampson (1880–1964)
Kuo-Hsiung Lee, 2011
Yves Leterme, 2016
Carlos Rubio López de la Llave, 2014
Norman Macrae (1923–2010), 1988
Paul Magnette, 2016
William P. Malm, 2020
Mike Masaoka, 1968
Matthew H. Molloy, 2013
Kyuzo Mifune (1883–1965), 1964
John Milne (1850–1913)
Earl Miner (1926–2004)
Edwin McClellan (1925–2009), 1998
Seang Nam, 2020
Edward Gage Nelson, 2008
Ian Nish, 1991
Setsuko Matsunaga Nishi, 2009
Dr. Susumu Nisizaki, 2018
Jerzy Nowacki, 2008
John O'Conor, 2011
Peter O'Malley, 2015
Dennis M. Ogawa, 2016
Taiichi Ohno, 1982
Janusz Onyszkiewicz, 2019
Piotr Paleczny, 2019
T.J. Pempel, 2022
Susan Pharr, 2008
Umberto Pineschi, 2009
Lee Poh Ping, 2010
John Powles, 2008
Pyle, Kenneth B. 1999
John Mark Ramseyer, 2018
Sadia Rashid, 2019
Dzulkifli Abdul Razak, 2019
Nguyễn Chí Vịnh, 2021 (Awarded in 2023)
Jacob Raz, 2006
Rustum Roy, 2002
David Rowe-Beddoe, 2008
David Russell, 2010
Raaj Kumar Sah, 2017
Emiko "Emily" Sano, 2008
Wolfgang Sauerwein (1952–), 2020
Isaac Shapiro (1931–), 2006
David Bowman Schneder, 1936
Edward Seidensticker, 1975
Go Seigen aka Wu Qing Yuan (1914–2014), 1987
John Stich, 2021
William Forbes-Sempill
Shinichi Suzuki (1898–1998), c. 1970
Jeanette Takamura, 2009
George Tanabe, Jr., 2013
Ichimatsu Tanaka (1895–1983), 1967
Tadao Tannaka (1908–1986), 1980
Patrick Lennox Tierney, 2007
Royall Tyler, 2008
István Ujszászy (1894–1948), 1942
Joseph K.H. Uy, 1991
T. Wayland Vaughan (1870–1952), 1940
Rudi Vervoort, 2016
Andrzej Wajda, 1995
Doi Michio, 1915
Paul Watanabe, 2017
Willy Vande Walle, 2006
Sam Walsh, 2021
R.J. Zwi Werblowsky, 2009
Charles Wolf, Jr, 2007
Lydia Yu-Jose, 2012
Jan van Zanen, 2016
Abul Barkat (1954–), 2022
4th Class, Gold Rays with Rosette
Hank Aaron (1934–2021), 2016
Ferran Adrià (1952–), 2015
Toshiko Akiyoshi (1929–), 2004
Syed Feroz Alam Shah, 2020
Boris Akunin (1956–), 2009
Arvydas Ališauskas, 2012
Shusaku Arakawa (1936–2010), 2010
Martha Argerich (1941–), 2005
Charles Aznavour (1924–2018), 2018
Kazuhiko Bandoh, 2014
Andrej Bekeš, 2008
Ilana Singer Blaine (b. 1961), 2021
Henry Pike Bowie (1848–1920), 1909
James R. Brandon, 1994
William Penn Brooks, 1888
Bobby Charlton, 2012
Tim Clark (historian of Japanese art), 2020
Willard G. Clark (1930–2015), 1991
David Cope, 2012
Clyde Everett Dickey (1934–), 2010
Charles B. Doleac, Esq., 2011
Bogna Barbara Dziechciaruk-Maj, 2009
William Elliot Griffis (1843–1928), 1907
Kenji Ekuan (1925–2015), 2000
Atsuko Toko Fish 2018
Fujiko Fujio A (1934–), 2008
Glen Gondo, 2013
Ted Goossen, 2018
Mohammad Hatta (1902–1980), 1943
(1933–), 2011
Steven Heine (1950–), 2007
Asao Hirano (1926–2019), 2001
Terumasa Hino (1942–), 2019
Michael Arnold Hodgkin, 2019
William Imbrie (1845–1928), 1909
Iskandar Jalil, 2015
Randall Sidney Jones, 2015
Rena Kanokogi (1935-2009), 2008
Gō Katō (1938–2018), 2008
Kihachirō Kawamoto (1925–2010), 1995
George Kerr (1937–), 2010
Keisuke Kinoshita (1912–1998), 1984
Joy Kogawa (1935–), 2010
Sachi Koto (1951– ), 2021
Włodzimierz Kwieciński (1955–), 2012
Tommy Lasorda (1927–2021), 2008
Liao I-chiu (1936–), 2014
Charles Von Loewenfeldt, 1987
Alfred Majewicz, 2002
Leiji Matsumoto, 2010
Hazel McCallion, 2014
Rokusaburo Michiba, 2007
Frank A. Miller, 1929
Shiro Floyd Mori, 2012
Raymond Moriyama (1929–2023), 2003
Kent Nagano, 2008
Masaya Nakamura (1925–2017), 2007
Olivia Newton-John (1948–2022), 2021
Hideyo Noguchi (1876–1928), 1915
Krystyna Okazaki, 2007
David Ono, 2022
Ivica Osim, 2016
Daniel Ost, 2015
Kenneth Oye, 2018
Edwina Palmer, 2018
Takao Saito, 2010
Ian Michael Scher, 2021
David Bowman Schneder, 1917
Frederik L. Schodt, 2009
Peter Schreier, 2019
Manmohan Singh, 2007
George Shima (1864–1926)
Tatsuzo Shimaoka (1919–2007), 1999
Setsuko Shinoda (1955–), 2020
Joseph Bower Siddall (1840–1904), 1909
Dragan Stojković (1965–), 2015
Sukarno (1901–1970), 1943
Koichi Sugiyama (1931–2021), 2018
Hiroshi Tachi (1950–), 2020
George Takei (1937–), 2004
Takeo Okuno (1926–1997), 1997
Kip Tokuda (1946–2013), 2012
Masanobu Tsuji (1902–1961), 1942
George Tsutakawa (1910–1997), 1981
Morihei Ueshiba (1883–1969), 1964
Raymond S. Uno, 2014
H. Paul Varley (1931–2015), 1966
The Ventures, 2010
Sadao Watanabe (1933–), 2005
Tetsuya Watari (1941–2020), 2013
William Scott Wilson (1944–), 2015
Teruaki Yamagishi (1934–), 2008
5th Class, Gold and Silver Rays
Mary-Grace Browning MBE (1944–), 2016
Miyazaki Atsuo (1947–), 2021
Dick Beyer (1930–2019), 2017
Vytautas Dumčius, 2016
Douglas Erber, 2021
Dr. Rupert Faulkner (Victoria & Albert Museum), 2020
Shyamala Ganesh, 2021
George Geddie (1869–1961), 1907
Toshihiro Hamano, 2017
Frances Hashimoto (1943–2012), 2012
Takami Hibiya (1909-1993) 1981
Abdullah Ibrahim (1934– ), 2020.
Jan Kowalewski (1892–1965), 1923
Kira Liscutín Córdova de Abreu (?–), 2021
Glenn Masuo Masunaga (1925–2019), 1999
Lori Matsukawa (1956– ), 2022
Br. Jude McKenna OFM Cap (1935– ), 2019.
Soleiman Mehdizadeh (1955– ), 2012
Kenzo Mori (1914–2007), 2007
Shōshin Nagamine (1907–1997), 1982
Roy Masahiro Nagata, 2005
Shūgorō Nakazato (1920–2016), 2007
Kiyoshi Nishiyama (1893–1983), 1977
Steere Noda, 1968
Jun Noguchi, 2011
Hironori Ōtsuka (1892–1982), 1966
Sumitra Peries (1934–2023), 2021
Vincenzo Ragusa (1841–1927), 1884
Major Douglas Estment Randall, MC (1891–1926), 1925
Antone Rosa (1855–1898), 1884
Inés Sánchez (1931– ), 2012
Buster Sefor (1941–), 2011* Low Thian Seng, 2015
Garrett Serikawa (1932–2019), 2016
Doreen Simmons (1932–2018), 2017
Yosihiko H. Sinoto (1924–2017), 1995
Alfred Russell Stone (1902–1954), 1954
James Takemori (1926–2015), 2004
Seiichi Tanaka (1968– ), 2013
Alicia Terada, 2017
Rudolf Teusler (1876–1934)
Ted Tsukiyama (1920–2019), 2001
Ronald Stewart Watt (1947– ), 2010
William Wheeler (1851–1932), 1924
Shuji Yagi (Shuho Bon Yagi), 2019
Akira Yoshizawa (1911–2005), 1983
Branislav Crnogorac (1952–), 2020
6th Class, Silver Rays
Fadi Aoun / Lebanon (2022)
Henry Hajimu Fujii (1886–1976), 1971
Kuniichi Iwata (Specialist) (1919–2014), 1995
Bolesław Orliński (1899–1992), 1926
Fudeko Reekie, 2013
Shigetaka Sasaki (1903–1993), 1986
John Wilson (Captain) (1851–1899), 1895
Yun Chi-sung (1875–1936), 1905
7th Class, Green Paulownia Leaves Medal
In 2003, the 7th and 8th levels – named for leaves of the Paulownia tree, long used as a mon (emblem) for the highest levels of Japanese society – were moved to a new and distinct order, the single-class Order of the Paulownia Flowers.
Leonard Kubiak (1899–1939), 1926
Shōjiro Kuwazoe (1876-1953)https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/memories/LYXL-XXQ
8th Class, white Paulownia Leaves Medal
In 2003, the 7th and 8th levels – named for leaves of the Paulownia tree, long used as a mon (emblem) for the highest levels of Japanese society – were moved to a new and distinct order, the single-class Order of the Paulownia Flowers.
Class unknown
Aung San (1915–1947)
Beneš, Edvard (1884–1948), 1928
Ralph T. Browning (1941–2018)
Burzagli, Ernesto (1873–1944), 1906
Henry Clews (Awarded 1908)
Craig, Albert M. (1988)
de Bary, William Theodore (1993)
Eichelberger, Robert Lawrence (1886–1961)
Ellis, Alfred John (1915–2020), 1989
Fortescue, Granville Roland (1875–1952)
Gibney, Frank B. (1924–2006), 1976
Józef Gieysztor
Grondijs, Louis (1878–1961)
Hosoya, Judayu (1840–1907)
Ibrahim, Sultan of Johor (1873–1959)
Knott, Cargill G. (1856–1922), 1891
Wiesław Kotański, 1986
Kunz, George Frederick (1856–1932)
Charles de Limburg Stirum (1906–1989)
Henryk Lipszyc, 1992
McKenzie, Lionel W. (1995)
Morrison, George F. (1867–1943)
Musa Ghiatuddin Riayat Shah, Sultan of Selangor (1893–1955)
Ozaki Yukio (1858–1954)
Paine, Godfrey (1871–1932), 1918
Patrick, Hugh Talbot 1994
Raymond, Rossiter W. (1840–1918)
Takamine Hideo (1854–1910)
Wasson, James R. (1847–1923), 1874
Franciszek Ziejka
Ivan Ivanovich Zarubin (1822–1902), 1881
Jane Birkin (1947-2023), 2018
See also
Order of merit: A list of orders by various states
Systems of other states:
Order of Civil Merit (Korea)
Order of Chula Chom Klao and Order of the White Elephant (Thailand)
Order of St. Michael and St. George (UK)
Legion of Honour (France)
Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Grand Merit Cross, Merit Cross and Merit Medal equivalents)
Order "For Merit to the Fatherland" (Russia)
Order of Isabella the Catholic (Spain)
Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (Grand Decoration in Gold with Sash, in Gold with Star, in Gold, Grand Decoration of Honour, Decoration of Honour in Gold, Decoration of Merit in Gold)
Order of Prince Henry (Portugal)
References
Further reading
Peterson, James W., Barry C. Weaver and Michael A. Quigley (2001). Orders and Medals of Japan and Associated States. San Ramon, California: Orders and Medals Society of America. .
External links
Japan, Cabinet Office: Decorations and Medals
Decoration Bureau: Order of the Rising Sun
Japan Mint: Production Process
1875 establishments in Japan
Orders, decorations, and medals of Japan
Awards established in 1875